Grassroots gig venue's expansion plans approved

Plans for a major expansion of a grassroots music venue in Preston have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

Two new performance spaces, recording studios and a rehearsal area are to be created as part of a project to turn The Ferret into what its operators have described as a "cultural hub" for the city.

Preston City Council has approved the scheme, which will see the legendary gig venue spread across all four floors of the Grade II-listed building on Fylde Road.

At the centre of the revamp will be a new 350-capacity space that will nearly double the number of people who can watch up-and-coming artists perform.

The changes will also enable the facility to host other events such as theatre shows and conferences, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The hunt is now on to find the funding needed to turn the vision for The Ferret's future into a reality, exactly 20 years after it opened.

Jeremy Rowlands, one of the non-profit venue's directors, said he expected the blueprint to take between three and five years to complete, adding that it would make "a massive difference" to life in Preston.

"I'm a believer that regeneration comes through culture - [and this] will mean a much larger venue for the city," he explained.

"We haven't really got anything much bigger than a 200 capacity and, for touring bands, that's a little bit too small."

He said they hoped to create a 350-space room on the first floor, enabling them to bring bigger acts to Preston and "really put us on the map".

The scheme comes nearly two years after the venue - originally known as The Mad Ferret and famed for hosting a pre-fame Ed Sheeran - was saved from the threat of closure.

The premises were bought by the Music Venues Trust – a charity set up to protect grassroots gigs – after £2.5m was raised via a community share offer.

Preston City Council also stepped in with a £150,000 loan to help enable the purchase.

The local authority said the proposed changes to the former spinning mill, dating back to 1796, would not have "any undue impacts".

It added that the development would also "maintain and create employment opportunities within the city centre".

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